GCSE Biology

One year GCSE Course

Biology

Board/code

Cambridge IGCSE Biology – Syllabus code 0970

What do we cover in the course?

Key syllabus elements

Characteristics and classification of living organisms (5% of teaching time)

Organisation and maintenance of the organism (50% of teaching time)

Development of the organism and the continuity of life (25% of teaching time)

Relationships of organisms with one another and with their environment (20% of teaching time)

How is it assesed?

All candidates take three papers.

Candidates who have studied the Core subject content, or who are expected to achieve a grade 3 or below should be entered for Paper 1, Paper 3 and either Paper 5 or Paper 6. These candidates will be eligible for grades 5 to 1, where 5 is the highest grade.

Candidates who have studied the Extended subject content (Core and Supplement), and who are expected to achieve a grade 4 or above should be entered for Paper 2, Paper 4 and either Paper 5 or Paper 6. These candidates will be eligible for grades 9 to 1, where 9 is the highest grade.

Core assessment

Paper 1: Multiple Choice (Core)

45 minutes
40 marks
Forty compulsory multiple-choice items of the
four-choice type.
This paper tests assessment objectives AO1 and
AO2
This paper assesses grades 5 to 1
Externally assessed

Paper 3: Theory (Core)

1 hour 15 minutes
80 marks
Compulsory short-answer and structured
questions
This paper tests assessment objectives AO1 and
AO2
This paper assesses grades 5 to 1
Externally assessed

Extended assessment

Paper 2: Multiple Choice (Extended)

45 minutes
40 marks
Forty compulsory multiple-choice items of the
four-choice type.
This paper tests assessment objectives AO1 and
AO2
This paper assesses grades 9 to 1
Externally assessed

Paper 4: Theory (Extended)

1 hour 15 minutes
80 marks
Compulsory short-answer and structured
questions
This paper tests assessment objectives AO1 and
AO2
This paper assesses grades 9 to 1
Externally assessed

Practical assessment

Paper 6: Alternative to Practical

1 hour
40 marks
This paper tests assessment objective AO3
This paper assesses grades 9 to 1
Candidates will not be required to do experiments as part of this test

Key skills required

We recommend that students who are beginning this course should have previously studied a lower school science curriculum. Students should also have adequate mathematical skills for the content contained in this syllabus.

In addition, it is desirable that students have:

· an inquisitive mind with a special interest in the natural world;

· an enthusiasm for biological studies.

Any other information

Cambridge IGCSE Certificates are general qualifications that enable students to progress either directly to employment, or to proceed to further qualifications.

Students who are awarded levels 7 to 9 in IGCSE Biology are well prepared to follow courses leading to Cambridge International AS and A Level Biology, or the equivalent.

80% of our GCSE Biology students achieved levels 6-9 in 2021-2022.